Jaya took a breath as she pulled out her textbooks. Well, it wasn’t like she needed to make these decisions now. She had years and years.

CHAPTER 10

Jaya

Saturday, the day their class was taking a trip to Aspen, was finally here. On her way out to the bus with Penelope, Jaya stopped at Isha’s dorm to say goodbye. This weekend was seniors only, so she was leaving Isha here by herself, much as she hated to. “Be good,” Jaya said, infusing a special significance into the words as she put her hands on Isha’s shoulders.

Isha, still in her Bob’s Burgers pajamas, sighed and leaned against her doorjamb. “I will.”

Jaya smiled stiffly over her shoulder at Penelope, who stood off to the side, waiting, pretending very hard not to be listening. Turning back to Isha, Jaya said, “So, what are your plans today?”

Isha gave Jaya a look. “I’m going back to bed. And then I’ll probably go get my nails done with Raina. And after that I’ll eat lunch; I’m thinking a burrito. Maybe with avocado spread, maybe not. But if my itinerary changes, I’ll be sure to text you.”

Jaya looked at Isha’s guarded, defensive face, at her unkempt hair, and felt a tug of sadness. How had their relationship devolved to this? Couldn’t Isha see that her older sister just wanted to take care of her? Jaya felt a familiar weight pressing down on her shoulders. She wished, fleetingly, that she could kiss Isha on the cheek and be off without any reminders or warnings. Sometimes she felt like Isha’s parole officer, not her sister.

“Okay,” she said softly. She didn’t have the energy for an argument. “Then I’ll let you get back to bed.”

Isha didn’t even say goodbye before she closed her dorm room door. Sighing, Jaya turned around and smiled at Penelope. “Ready?”

They walked outside together, both of them bundled in their coats and mittens. It was an especially opportune trip, because Jaya needed to get her necklace repaired. Perhaps she could find the time to do that on this trip. She hadn’t dared to wear it in a couple of days, just in case the rubies began falling again.

A giant, shiny black bus stood at the curb, waiting. “Whoa,” Jaya whispered when she climbed aboard behind Penelope. She’d been on luxury buses before, but never one quite like this.

This bus had sumptuously padded leather seats that looked like they belonged on armchairs in ancient libraries, neon lights that lit everyone up in bright colors, mirrors along the walls, and polished black floors. It was like the designers had tried their hardest to make it look like a nightclub rather than a bus.